Improvement in water-wheels



UNITED USTATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN MUMMA, OF WEST ALEXANDRIA, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN WATER-WH EELS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 715, dated April 28, 1838.

To all whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, J oHN MUMMA, of West Alexandria, in the county of Preble and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement on Reaction Water-Vheels, which I have denominated the Overshot Reaction Water-Vheel, whereof the following is a full and exact description.

In the drawings annexed, Figure No.1 represents a side view of the structure, and Fig. No. 2 a perpendicular View of it.

In both figures, R represents the reservoir or fore bay; O D, the chute. The water is carried down the chute in the direction from C to D, at which latter point it is forced directly against the upper buckets ofthe wheel, which are represented by the small letters a. It then falls down into a tub or receiver, which is represented by the letters G H in Fig. No. l, and passes out at the issues or orifices denoted by small letters b. The tub or receiver G H is attached permanently to the same axis E F with the buckets, all revolving together. The bucket-s a are so attached to the axis that the current or head of waterstrikes them at right angles, or as nearly so as may be. The issues l? are on inclined planes, so constructed that the water in passing out reacts upon the wheel, increasing its velocity. The water, after spending its force'on the buckets a, is received into the tub G H, Where it is suffered to accumulate, according to the pressure required, when it passes oft through the issues b, thus increasing the momentum or velocity of the wheel in proportion to the head of Water thus accumulated.

To regulate the quantity of water required I attach a regulator, designated by L M in Fig. No. 1, which is a surface ext-ending across the chute, fastened on a hinge or otherwise at some point L in the chute, and extending lengthwise to the place of issue D. It is elevated or depressed by a screw N, so as to enlarge or diminish at will the orifice at D, whence the Water rst issues upon the buckets a. The buckets a are inclosed by a covering I K, to which is attached in the inside a hoop or rim, extending down a short distance into the tub, so as to prevent the waste of water. The whole structure, or any part thereof, may be composed of such durable materials, Whether of wood or metal, as the builder pleases. i

The peculiar advantage of a wheel constructed in the above mode consists in the economy or accession of power it aords by dividing'the head of water, receiving, as it does, the whole force of the water from the chute immediatelv at the point of issue Dv upon the upper buckets a, added to the momentum given by the accumulation 0i. water in the revolving tub passing oft on inclined planes or buckets, thus increasing the velocity. By means of the revolving tu'b the head of Water may be divided into any given number of parts by dividing the tub into the number of parts required and inserting buckets in each division, constructed after the mode indicated, where the water :tinally passes oii by the issues l). Dividing the head of wat-er increases its velocity. Thus in a head of six feet, if the velocity at the point of issue be twelve feet per second, by dividing it into two parts of three feet each the aggregate velocity at the points of issue Will be about seventeen feet per second.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination of one, two, or more tubwheels with thewheel placed next the chute and the mode of regulating the outlet of` water, all as above described.

Y JOHN MUMMA.

Vitnesses:

JAS. B. Dicks, WM. MoCHEsNEY. 

